Marine Scotland have given their opinion that an Environmental Impact Assessment is not necessary for constructing a massive oil-rig jetty and one of Europe’s largest caisson ‘dry dock’ gate structures at the Hunterston yard. These developments will require a considerable amount of dredging and impact pile driving and may have significant impact on local marine animals and the integrity of Southannan Site of Special Scientific Interest. Developers and planners seem to be relying on ‘scoping reports’ to capture Ministers opinion and left by the statutory and regulatory authorities to develop their own in-house environmental policy. There has been no consideration to wider group and public interests in developing the environmental statements put forward for Hunterston decommissioning yard. This seems contrary to National Planning policy and guidance.

You are invited to a free public event hosted by the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership (CMPP), who are responsible for developing the Clyde Regional Marine Plan, which is due in 2020 .

The CMPP have stated that from these workshops:

That public input will be captured by the team and will be used to finalise the Layman’s guide to the Clyde Marine Region Assessment before publishing it.

Public comments relating to marine policy will also be captured and brought into the marine plan development process for consideration by the CMPP.

We very much hope that you can attend. Although the events are free, the CMPP ask that you book in advance; Online registration details, or by phone, further information regarding the events are provided below.

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Event Details and Attached Flier from the CMPP

The seas of the Clyde Marine Region are varied and complex, and are used for a huge range of activities from industry to recreation. They are also home to a rich diversity of species and habitats, which have undergone many changes over time.

We would like to invite you to a “Workshop on the condition of seabed habitats, fish and shellfish in the Clyde”

A presentation will be given on the findings of the ‘Clyde Marine Region Assessment’, which describes the current condition of the Clyde, changes over time, and the sensitivities and pressures faced by its diverse marine life.

The focus will be on:

Seabed habitats, including seagrass

Shellfish

Marine policy: with an open discussion on future marine planning policy

Two short video animations will also be shown to illustrate the process of the ‘Assessment’, and the ‘condition of seabed habitats, fish and shellfish in the Clyde’. A guide has also been drafted for the public to describe the topics above, and will be shown at the workshop.

The discussions are meant to be led by a team from Inmara Ltd (http://inmara.co), with input from members of the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership.

Fairlie Community Council is concerned by the ‘quasi-deccommisioned’ status of the Hunterston Coal Terminal and on going pollution that is impacting the Southannan SSSI. FCC reported the issue to Scottish Natural Heritage, Marine Scotland, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership. In the spirit of community involvement in the participatory planning process we invited these organisations to visit Fairlie but they have failed to engage with our coastal community. Peel Port commissioned their own ‘Coal Migration Report‘ in a knee-jerk response to our concerns. The findings and lack of effective recommendations are unacceptable to Fairlie Community Council and we are now calling for a rigorous environmental appraisal of Southannan SSSI and surrounding marine environment.

Jamie Greene MSP has just asked the First Minister in FMQs, why he has not received responses from the Environment, Climate Change & Land Reform Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham MSP on two important letters relating to the Hunterston Site.

One letter was for a ‘Constructive proposal for economic regeneration’ of the site & promotion of ‘Green Energy.’

And the other concerned the issues around Testing of Offshore Wind Turbines at Hunterston.

More than a month later he has not received a response for either.

Kenneth Gibson MSP looked on with a consternated expression as Nicola Sturgeon MSP joked that she hoped her ministers will not be clocking off early for Christmas. As the First Minister is not aware of the details in Jamies Greene’s letters, she cannot comment until checks the position with the ministers concerned. She will ensure that replies ‘wing their way’ to Jamie Greene and on his desk in the early part of the new year.

You can watch Jamie Greene asks his question at 24:52 seconds on the clip below:

An application was made to NAC Council to protect the trees in Fairlie Glen and Ladies Walk plantation. A TPO order was granted for the Ladies Walk beech tree plantation but was rejected for the trees in Fairlie Glen.

Planning application 17/01005/PP was made to increase the size of the Pacific Oyster Farm in Fairlie Bay. While broadly supportive of sustainable shellfish culture FCC objected to this application on the following grounds: